Look To The Stars News: Bob Dylan

Ne-Yo And Swizz Beatz To Attend Songs Of Hope VII

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Ne-Yo, Skylar Grey, Sara Bareilles, Swizz Beatz, Desmond Child, Mark Mothersbaugh (co-founder and lead singer of Devo), and other music and entertainment industry giants committed to fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases will tonight take part in Songs of Hope VII, a special event and silent auction presented by Esquire that supports lifesaving research at City of Hope.

Held at the exclusive Esquire Apartment in the penthouse of The Clocktower in DUMBO, Brooklyn, N.Y., the Dec. 1 event will be emceed by Ne-Yo and feature intimate performances by Skylar Grey and Sara Bareilles. Lending their names in support to the host committee are Miley Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, John McEnroe, Patty Smyth, Rob Thomas, and Mary Mary.

Recognizing their amazing careers as songwriters and composers, the Songs of Hope VII award recipients will include the:

Chimes Of Freedom: Stars Cover Bob Dylan For Charity

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Two iconic forces that have impacted the past 50 years – the life-saving human rights activism of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Amnesty International and the incomparable artistry of Bob Dylan – are being saluted by 80 musicians who contributed new or previously unreleased recordings to Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.

The collection is scheduled for physical (4 discs) and digital release in North America on January 24, 2012 through Fontana Distribution. It will be distributed internationally through Fontana International, a Universal Music company, on January 30.

Chimes of Freedom features a stellar and diverse group of artists across the generational and musical spectrum. The performers, including many of Amnesty International’s longtime supporters, range in age from teenage pop star Miley Cyrus, 19, to folk music legend Pete Seeger, who, at 92, records Dylan’s poignant “Forever Young,” with a children’s chorus.

Songs For Japan Raises $10 Million For Earthquake Victims

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Songs For Japan, the unique, star-studded album collection created to help raise money for victims of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami disasters, continues to benefit the survivors through Japanese Red Cross Society.

Yesterday in Tokyo, senior executives from four major music companies – EMI, Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music Group – met with Japanese Red Cross Society Vice President, Yoshiharu Otsuka, to recognise the milestone of $10 million raised and donated from the global sales of Songs For Japan. The occasion was a reception hosted by Frances Moore, chief executive of worldwide recording industry organisation IFPI.

A music industry-wide initiative, Songs For Japan is an unprecedented compilation of 38 major hits and classic tracks, including 21 Billboard Hot 100 hits and five #1s from more than 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music. The collection was rush-released worldwide on March 25 – only 14 days after the earthquake struck Japan – as a digital album via iTunes, followed by the release of a physical two-CD set.

Forty Years Ago Today - George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Forty years ago today, George Harrison took to the stage with a host of his celebrity friends for what is regarded as the first large scale multi-artist benefit concert – The Concert For Bangladesh. Look To The Stars Feature Editor Tim Saunders looks back at the climatic and political events that led up to the concert, and the on-going effects the show has had on celebrity charity events.

In early November, 1970, the Beatles were just about to break up and something wasn’t right in the South China Sea.

As Paul McCartney prepared his legal suit for the dissolution of the Fab Four after months of tempestuous fighting within the band, merchant shipping reported a storm was brewing to the south east of India. Moist, hot air was rising off the warm sea, sucking up water vapor as it went. When it reached a few hundred meters in height, it began to cool, condensing and becoming saturated. The low pressure system that was forming started to react with the high pressure system around it, swirling round like some celestial being was mixing a cake.

Songs For Japan: Stars Donate Tracks To Charity Album

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 04:30:00 +0000

In what stands as a major global music relief effort to benefit those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, over 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music have joined together for the worldwide release of “Songs for Japan,” an unprecedented compilation of 38 chart-topping hits and classic tracks.

The digital album is available worldwide on the iTunes Store for $9.99. Proceeds from the album’s sale will benefit the disaster relief efforts of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The “Songs for Japan” track listing features an all-star lineup:

Music Superstars Create CD for Flood Victims

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:08:00 +0000

Dozens of artists, including Sting, Bon Jovi, Pink, Bob Dylan and Kings Of Leon have donated tracks to a CD benefitting the Queensland flood victims.

Flood Relief – Artists For The Flood Appeal will also feature songs from Australian bands Powderfinger, Crowded House and Midnight Oil.

59 previously-released tracks have been donated by the bands for the three-disc compilation, including songs by Beyoncé, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters and Keith Urban.

Stars Stand Up To Cancer On Demand

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Comcast Corporation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have joined together to create the first-ever video-on-demand (VOD) initiative Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand to broaden awareness and raise critical funds for innovative cancer research.

Debuting exclusively on Comcast beginning December 15th, Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand will feature an extraordinary library of musical entertainment including hundreds of music videos from many of the world’s biggest stars and groups.

Available for no additional cost to viewers in more than 18 million Comcast homes through March 14th, Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand will feature more than 60 of the viewers’ favorite artists including Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Idina Menzel, Jack Johnson, Sting, Renée Fleming, Placido Domingo and other stars of the Metropolitan Opera.

Win Dave Stewart's New Book From Nelson Mandela's Charity

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

46664 Ambassador Dave Stewart has just released his new book “The Dave Stewart Songbook” and the charity has a signed copy to give away.

This stunning 300-page work of art contains stories by the legendary Eurythmics co-founder, songwriter and producer Dave Stewart. These are revealing and intimate stories behind some of his many smash-hit songs written with Annie Lennox, Bono, Mick Jagger, Jon Bon Jovi, Gwen Stefani and Bob Geldof, including his work on the Nelson Mandela 46664 song “American Prayer”.

  Included are never-before-published photographs of these international superstars, many of which were shot by Dave Stewart, a renowned photographer himself. This wonderful package also comes with a double-CD set of all 21 hit songs newly recorded by Dave Stewart & His 30-piece Rock Fabulous Orchestra along with the sheet music to each track. This is an amazing book for universal music fans and contains a foreword by Bob Dylan.  

Christmas Charity Singles Hit The Market

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

It’s that time year again – a new wave of charity singles are about to hit the market to spread goodwill in the Christmas season.

Leading the pack this year is a new single from Eric Clapton recorded with Paul Stewart – eldest son of Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart – called “Fly Free.”

Recorded in honour of the racing legend’s 70th birthday, the song will be released on 15 November 2009. All proceeds will be donated to the Grand Prix Mechanics’ Charitable Trust, an organization founded by Sir Jackie Stewart and others more than 20 years ago that assists Grand Prix, former Grand Prix mechanics, their wives, widows and children in times of need.

Iconic Stars Reveal Inspirations For Charity Calendar

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

British charity CLIC Sargent is to benefit from sales of a new calendar featuring the inspiration selections of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Bono and other icons for the music world.

Music and entertainment specialist HMV is to mark the third anniversary of its acclaimed my inspiration campaign by featuring memorable highlights in a charity calendar for 2009/2010.

These include the my inspiration selections of Bob Dylan – who selected Scottish poet, Robert Burns; Bono and Paul McCartney, who, in turn, cite Bob Dylan as theirs; Paul Weller, who was first inspired by the songwriting of Lennon and McCartney; Bruce Springsteen, who was influenced by Blues performer Woodie Guthrie; and Deborah Harry, who found inspiration in the songs of Leonard Cohen.

Bob Dylan Gives Royalties To World Hunger Programme

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Royalties from Bob Dylan’s forthcoming Christmas album will be donated to the World Food Programme (WFP) at a time when a growing hunger crisis threatens the lives of 108 million people worldwide.

The artist’s international royalties in perpetuity from his forthcoming album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart, to be released 12 October, will be donated to WFP, the agency said today. WFP said this extraordinary gift will bring help and hope to hungry families who have been dealt a devastating blow by the financial crisis and stubbornly high food prices.

“Bob Dylan’s generosity to help WFP feed the world’s hungry couldn’t come at a better time. Starting this Christmas, we can give thousands of meals to hungry school children all over the world, a gift for a lifetime,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide, adding that for just 25 US cents a day, WFP can fill a school child’s cup with porridge to help them learn better and succeed in the future.

Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album to Aid the Hungry

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Folk rock legend Bob Dylan hopes to announce that ‘Times They Are A Changin’ as he endeavours to raise money for Feeding America through the release of a new Christmas album.

All American royalties will be forwarded to the charity, which is the country’s leading domestic hunger relief charity, assisting more than 25 million low income people in the United States. Further hunger relief organisations around the world will also benefit from proceeds from the CD.

Michael Jackson's Glove To Be Auctioned For Charity

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Michael Jackson’s original sparkling glove will be auctioned off for charity at the annual Music Icons event at the Hard Rock Café in New York’s Times Square in November.

But this isn’t just one of the many gloves the singer wore over his lifetime, which were right hand gloves. This is the one-of-a-kind left hand glove Jackson wore when he unveiled the moonwalk during the “Motown 25” special in 1983. Jackson gifted the glove to Walter Orange, one of the founding members of the Commodores, and it is considered one of the most iconic pieces of Michael Jackson history.

“Michael came up behind me and put his hand over my eyes and said, ‘Guess who?’” said Orange. “I knew who it was because I felt the one glove on his left hand and no glove on the other. When I once again asked him for his autograph, Michael gave me the glove he wore that night instead, still refusing to give me his autograph! He was always a real prankster, even as a little boy, so I asked him if he was serious about giving me the glove, and he assured me that he was.”

Nelson Mandela's 91st Celebrated In Style

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A galaxy of stars turned out to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday in New York during the weekend, with proceeds going to one of the South African legend’s charities.

Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and many more appeared at the Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, July 19, with money raised going to 46664, Mandela’s campaign to help raise Global awareness of AIDS/HIV. 46664 aims to highlight the emergency of AIDS/HIV through unique live events and music related initiatives.

Mandela himself was unable to attend the event, but did send a video message in which he said “It is on your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” President Barack Obama also appeared via video, saying that Mandela’s life “teaches us that the impossible can be done, but only if people have the courage to make change happen.”

Early Tickets To Farm Aid Go On Sale Today

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Pre-sale tickets to this year’s Farm Aid concert are available today, July 17.

The concert will take place on October 4 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The annual event is set to include Farm Aid board members Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp, with more acts to be announced soon.

“Just as rock & roll is loud and proud, so is Farm Aid,” said Neil Young. “Farm Aid’s greatest accomplishment, I believe, is in the spirit. It’s the fact that we represent the spirit of the good fight, to keep something good happening. It just keeps getting stronger and stronger….”

John Stamos To Rock n' Roll For Charity

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Actor John Stamos will make an appearance at a special night of Rock n’ Roll benefiting Project Cuddle tonight, June 10.

The event celebrates the public opening of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in New York, and will feature great food and drinks, and the chance to look through the history of popular music – with a selection of items from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, Madonna to John Lennon.

Project Cuddle is a 24-hour crisis line for women who are hiding their pregnancies and is the result of one woman’s crusade to help prevent infants from being abandoned, Debbe Magnusen. Since its inception, the organization has saved over 600 babies across the US and into Canada from the fate of being abandoned or worse. Project Cuddle works with frightened girls or women and helps them find safe, legal options so that they never have to leave a baby at a dumpster, a church or dirty back alley.

War Child Album Cover Artwork To Be Auctioned

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Artist John Squire’s artwork for the new War Child Heroes compilation is to be auctioned off for the charity.

The former Stone Roses guitarist has donated the image for the online auction on eBay.

“For me the appeal of War Child is pretty simple, they help the hungry, the displaced and the traumatised children in certain war zones to deal with that situation and they involve them in deciding how that help is organised,” he said. “Anything I can do to support them is no trouble at all.”

Lily Allen To Go Abroad With War Child

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0000

British singer Lily Allen has announced her plans to travel overseas for charity and explained why.

“I sometimes feel like my life is a bit empty – as ridiculous as that sounds to some people, a bit vacuous,” she told Q Radio host Samanthi. "It is pop music and people do talk about it too much and sometimes I feel like I want to have a bit more substance in my life.

“I am going to be going to Afghanistan or the Congo in a few weeks to help War Child. They want me to go there and see how the money I have earned for them in the past is being used. And that is the stuff I get really excited about.”

Springsteen Chooses Rockers For Charity Album

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:30:00 +0000

The long-delayed Heroes charity album will finally get its release in February, and anticipation is already high from music fans and musicians alike.

“We’d already done ‘Atlantic City’ at a charity benefit, so we kind of had an arrangement worked up, so we decided to record that,” Craig Finn, lead singer with The Hold Steady told XFM radio after Bruce Springsteen chose the Brooklyn-based band to cover his song for Heroes. “It’s a pretty fun song, and I’m pretty happy with our version of it. We’ve been compared to Bruce Springsteen a lot, and he is a hero to all of us. It’s flattering that he’d think of us, given the choice. We hope our version of the song conveys the respect we have for him as an artist.”

The album will raise money for War Child, and features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation. Stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson have selected one of their best-known classic songs and nominated a new artist to record a cover of the track. Artists taking part include Beck, who will cover Dylan’s Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; Rufus Wainwright, who will perform a medley from Wilson’s Smile; and The Kooks, who will cover The Kinks’ Victoria.

Bono's RED(Wire) To Launch Next Week

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:00 +0000

A new digital music service offered by Bono’s (RED) campaign is set to launch on Monday, December 1 – the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

The singer announced the new system in July, saying: “We are working on [a way that] will help change the way music is received, as well as change the lives of Africans who will die without the AIDS drug that (RED) can provide.”

RED (Wire) will be a subscription-based service that will deliver weekly magazine style installments. For $5/month, subscribers will receive an exclusive song from one of the world’s top artists, a song by an emerging artist, a piece of non-music content called a “Crackerjack surprise,” and stories of how (RED) funds are being used to combat the deadly disease.

Bob Dylan To Donate Concert Proceeds

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Bob Dylan is to donate some of the proceeds from seven shows on his upcoming tour of Canada to a literacy campaign.

The 67-year-old legend is lending his support to the Canwest Raise-a-Reader Concert Series, a campaign that supports local literacy groups across Canada while also promoting the importance of literacy among Canadian families.

“Bob Dylan has a repertoire of unforgettable lyrics that have put a voice to a variety of causes over the course of his impressive career,” said David Asper, executive vice-president of Canwest Global Communications Corp and chairman of the National Post. “He has made a profound impact in the worlds of both music and literature, and I am so pleased to have him join us in raising the profile of literacy in Canada as the newest addition to the Concert Series family of artists.”

Singers Cover Heroes For War Child

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:30:00 +0000

War Child has announced the release of their biggest and most ambitious album to date: Heroes.

The album – to be released on November 24 – will raise money for the charity, which works to help children around the world affected by war. It will feature a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation.

The idea behind the project is to have stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson select one of their best-known classic songs and nominate a new artist to record a cover of the track.

Singers Combine Talents To Support America’s Farmers

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:00 +0000

A 23-year-old music tradition continues on September 20 as Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young grace the stage at Farm Aid 2008.

While it’s the first time the event will be in New England, it’s not the first time Farm Aid will make a lot of noise. With the mission of combining great music and a great cause, musicians and organizers hope to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep struggling family farms afloat.

While not often covered in the media, there is a crisis facing family farmers in the United States today. Farmers are under intense economic pressure, especially during a recession, and every year thousands are forced off their land. As a result, our quality of food, environment, and food security suffers as large factory farms dominate the rural countryside.

Who Wants To Be A Roadie For The Who?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Following last week’s announcement that they are to donate the proceeds from an upcoming concert to charity, classic British rockers The Who are offering one lucky fan the chance to roadie for them on their new tour in a special online auction to raise money for a charity that inspires at-risk youth with the assistance of homeless shelter dogs.

Fans are already bidding over $20,000 for the opportunity to join the band on the road and hang out with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend on their US tour. But that’s not all that’s on offer: bidders also have the chance to pick up signed memorabilia from Bob Dylan, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Harrison Ford, David Gray, Robert Plant, Kevin Spacey, Tom Hanks, Hilary Duff, Justin Long, Tori Spelling, and Hayden Panettiere.

The auction, which runs until August 24 and can be accessed through Ebay Giving Works, is raising money for K9 Connection, a charity that allows at-risk 12- to 18-year-old children train homeless shelter dogs in basic obedience, assisting the dogs to develop the skills to become adoptable. The organization aims to empower high-risk youth to apply the lessons they teach the dogs to their own lives: to develop an awareness of the risks of uncontrolled and impulsive behavior, and to believe in the power of positive reinforcement as an alternative to force and violence.

Farm Aid 2008 To Rock New England

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Rocker John Mellencamp has unveiled the main acts set to kick up a storm at Farm Aid 2008.

The concert – which will take place on September 20 – will be held for the first time in New England, and will see performances by Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Willie Nelson, all of which are on the board of directors for Farm Aid. More acts will be announced over the next few weeks.

“We are proud to bring our annual Farm Aid concert to a region that has such strong agricultural roots and to the many people who love to eat the good food grown in New England,” said Nelson, Farm Aid’s president. “I’m looking forward to bringing my friends together on the Farm Aid stage to celebrate and support family farmers.”